Plaster-block-molding machine.



. ha BRDSY @L U l HENNNHR PLASTBR BLOCK MLDN- MLWENE.

MYLIGATION FILED APR. 29, 1912.

SHEETS-SHEET 1.

www@

OQO

@OQO @GGO O00@ OOO@ @19005; td o CDO@ :fil

WfW@27/Zbmy C.. EL BRDSEY Sz G. F'. :[-H'INBTLWx 'JASTER BLOCK MOLDNG MACHINE.

AFPLIGATION FILED Aww, 1912.

www@ n;

. R. BIRDSEY @n C. F. HBNNING.

PLASTER BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1912.

" Patented Nov. W,

5 SHEBTSwS-IEBT 3.

MMMH

G. R. BIRDSEY d; C. F. HENNING.

PLASTBR BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2SA), 1912.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

5 SHEETS Y-SHEET 4.

(L R. BIRDSEY L C. P. HENNING.

PLASTBR BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATIGN FILED APR.29,1912,

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

5 SHEBTSvSHEET 5,

LJ LH Mn/@6696.

U ITE wenn CHRIJ 1R. Blllfwl'l AND GHARLES F. ENNING, 0F CHICAGU, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIRS TU {FHF} UNTED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY, F CHICAG, XLLINIS, A CORPOUL- FIttlSTEIt-FLOC1LMLIDING MACHNE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application tiled April 29, 1912. Serial 170.5933536.

To all 'whom it may conce/11n VBe it lrnovvnthat We, GHAnLns R. andiCHARLEs F. HnnnINo, citizens of the' United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Coolr and @tateof llllinois, have BrnosnY invented certain nevv and useful lmprovef molded accurately, speedily and economic ally.

. from and, also,

ter understood by reference v that-.at each end Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine in which the molds; are automatically closed before being filled? and are automatically opened after the blocks of plastic material have set so thatJ the blocks may be readily removed thereto provide means for loosen-4 ing the blocks from the bottoms of the molds.

@ther objects and advantages of the present invention vvill'be apparent as it is bet* to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrat: ing one preferred embodiment thereof. .Referring to the drawings-ll`igure l is ai sideelevation partially in section of a bloclr-l` moldingl machine embodying' our inventiongl Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substani tially on the line 24-2 of Fig. 1", Fig. 3 is all plan view of one of the molds .slioivinpgx portion of the bottom covering reinovedp Fig. t is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fregi mentary end elevation ofthe carrier andj moldsgFig'. 6 is a plan view of arnoldbctvtorn showing another form of coverinn sheet; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary semtionall view similar to Fig. a but showing a moldl equipped with the covering 'sheet showninl Fig'. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged vievvof one@ 'end of the mold shown in. Fig. l; Fin.. 9 is al side elevation of one end of tbeanacliine showing another lform of. mechanism .for loosening the blocks 'from the bottoms'of the molds; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view' on the line 7-7 ofFig. 6;l

From the drawings it will be `observed of the' main? fra-nie ill ,ofthe lcarried by Figs. 1 and 5. When machine a pair of large sprocket wheels 12 and 13 are mounted on suitable cross shafts la and 15, respectively. The length of the frame and the distance between the sprocket vvheels may vary in different machines, de-

pending to a considerable extent upon the 'size' of the blocks to be molded and the rapidity With which the machines run but,

ordinarily, the frame Will be from 100 to 250 feet in length. An endless carrier carrying a plurality of molds is trained to travel abound the sprocket Wheels, any suitable driving mechanism being employed for effecting an lintermittent or constant travel of the carrier.

The carrier comprises a4 plurality of @Enron Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

transversely extending lrods or shafts 16' mounted in pairs in suitable bearings 17 fixed to the mold bottoms 18. Longitudinal movement of the shafts in the bearings is prevented by end collars 19 and by links 21 secured on the shafts between the bearings. vlt will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 5 that each mold bottom With its downwardly projecting bearingsl? andthe shafts 16 mounted therein forms, neifect, a rigid truck and the adjacent trucks are connected together by the links 21 fixed at each end to the rod shafts 16; Suitable Wheels 22 are mounted on the shafts 16 and are adapted to `travel between the sprocket wheels 12 and 13 upon tracks 23 and 2i supported upon the frame of the machine, these tracks beingn adapted to support the Weight of the car rier between the sprocket Wheels.

Flach of the molds in which the plaster blocks are formed comprises the bottom 18 supported lfrom a pair of the shafts lby the bearings 11' and the side Walls .25`and vend-walls 26 Which are mounted as will now be described: The bottoms 18 are provided atjtheir ends with bearings or lugs 27 adapted toreceive a pivotrod 28 and theends 26 are 1pivotally mounted on these rods by means of downwardly projecting bearing studs 29 tiXed to the vends 26 Aand svvingingly supported on the rods .The sides 25 are brackets llixed on the links 21 and when the molds 4are traveling in a straight line between'the sprocket Wheels each side forms a partition and a common side Wall for adjacent molds, as shown in the molds, however,

Sli

are traveling in a curved path around'the travel along. It is, of course, desirable that the molds be closed when they receive their charge of plastic material and, therefore, we have provided means for holding the end walls in vertical or closed osition from a time prio-r to the charging o; the molds until the blocks have set and nearly reached their discharge position. To this end a guideway or track 33 provided with a suitable hardened wear plate 33 is mounted adjacent the ends of the molds at* the supply end of the machine and the end supporting lugs 29'are extended downwardly to provide projections or arms 34"'adapted to be engaged bythe guide 33 to hold the ends in closed position, The arms 34 are preferably equipped with set-screws :35 which are threaded there- "through so that, their inner ends may engage lwith the guide 33. Suitably curved guides or cam members 36 are mounted on the lower v'part of the machine frame in position to engagewith the mold ends 26 and force them into closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and .The tightness. of the mold ends can, of

2*; Thelower travel of the carrier moves toward the right, viewing Fig. 1 and, it .will be manifest,'that as each mold reaches a "position opposite the curved guides 36, the

vmold 'ends will be brought into engagement with the Guides and swung on their pivots to vertical? or closed position. This closing movement of the ends takes place just before 'the Imolds reach the beginning ofthe guide I 33" so that the projecting arms 341Wi1l always be Ioutside the guide 33'and the ends will be held in'closed position throughout the length of the guide 33 by engagement of the inner ends of thefadjusting -screws 3.5 therewith.

course, be regulated by adjusting the screws 35 and theymay be further adjustedto takev u'p the wear thereon, as'required. The' mold ends are,v therefore, held intclosed position at thetime that each moldl receives its charge, 'from the supply device 32 and, "since the4V molds at this point are traveling in a straight` Aline,'the sides 25 havea contact fit' with'the side edges of the mold bottoms and the mold is accordingly closed to produce abox-like `structure adapted tocontain-the charge of plastic material. v

After the mold ends have been closedand i before the charge is introduced to the mold thel cores- 37'. are. inserted vinto lthe mold as. shownlin Fig. 2. The number and size ofthe c'oreszeinployedin' each particular mold willdepend upon the size of the mold and the material of which the block is composed, the

32 fills the interior of the mold around the ,cores and the material sets or hardens as the carrier travels along so that by the time the vmold reaches the opposite end of the machine the blocks may be removed therefrom. The cores, of course, are withdrawn before the blocks are removed or the mold opened.

In order to facilitate the removal of the blocks it is desirable to separate the ends and side walls of the molds and, for the purpose of swinging the end walls outwardly, the guide 33 is constructed to terminate at 38 (Fig. 1) the end being turned inwardly at this point. Another guide device 39 overlaps the end 33 of the device 33 and is spaced therefromso that it engages the outer faces of the projections 34. The device 39 is curved inwardly and upwardly from its overlapping end so that the engagement of the projections 34 therewith will cause the mold ends 26'v to swing away from the block 41 into horizontal position as shown in F ig. 1. As the mold reaches the sprocket wheel 12 the side walls '25 are separated from the block by the curvature of the wheel which causesva radial movement of the sides relatively to the mold bottom and also separates the sides from the bottom, as previously described. It will be obvious, therefore, that by the time the block has traveled a short distance around the wheel 12 both the end walls and sidewalls of the mold will have been separated from the block so that they will not interfere with its ready removal from the inold.

For the purpose of freeing the block from the bottom of the mold and facilitating its ready removal. we prefer to cover the bottom of each moldwith a sheet 42 of rubber or other flexible material, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the marginal edges of which are, fixed to the bottom 18-around the periphery. The sheet is free to be flexed or separated from the bottom at all points Within the margins. The bottom 18 is prop vided with sockets or depressions 43 in which are disposed plates lor plungers 44 having extensions 45 protruding through perforations in the bottoms of the recesses.

:Coi-led expansion springs 46 normally retain the plates in their depressed position, asshown in Fig. 4. When the side and end walls of the molds have been separated the plates 44 are elevated by suitable mechanism which tends to free the block from the sheet 42- which forms thebottom of the vmold,'be cause the plates 4'4 Warp'the flat surfaceof thesheet 42, breaking the adhesive bond'between't the molded block and the' 'flexible p v i f Various mechanisms for elevating the plates i4 may be employed, one form illustrated in Fig. 1 being shown as comprising a series ofradial spindles 47 mounted between the Wheels 1Q in alinement with lthe ends of the plungers and connected at their inner ends to an eccentric ring 4:8 encircling a fixed eccentric 49. As the wheels 12 revolve the spindles 47 will be successively projected into engagement with the plungers to elevate the plates 44, thereby loosening the blocks ,from sheet 42 which forms the bottoms of the molds and the blocksmay thereF upon be readily lifted out of the molds and stacked or piled up in any convenient place.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive,'vve have disclosed one practical construction of the rub- -ber sheet covering the bottom of the mold and its manner of attachment to the mold. The sheet 51 in this instance is provided with a 'thickened margin in which bolts 53 are embedded at intervals with their threaded ends projecting downwardly for insertion through suitable apertures in the mold bottom'vvhich is formed to provide a peripheral depression or groove 54; to receive the thickened margin 52. The sheet is rigidly lined to the mold bottom around its edges by nuts 55 threaded onto the lower ends of the bolts 53. rlhe sheet is free from the mold bottom Within the margins so that it may be Warped or elevated above the bottom by the plungers 44, as previously de scribed. The elevation or warping of the flexible sheet serves to break the suction between the sheet and the plastic block so that the block may be readily removed. The upper surface of the sheet 51 is preferably roughened to provide indentatio-ns in the completed block and, if desired, letters, characters, or advertising matter may be formed on the sheet to be reproduced-on the Jface of the block. in Fig. 6 that portion of the sheet bounded by the lines 56 is designed to be provided with characters or advert-isJ ing matter but, obviously, this matter 'may be omitted, if preferred.

Thejplastic material with whichthe molds are charged or filled comprises :riconsiderable amount of Water and it is, therefor@ desirable that the edges of the mold lit tightly to prevent the water from escaping. Tothis end the edges of the fleniblesheet 51 are concaved, as indicated at 56,and the cornersf57 at the top land bottom of the con* cavity project beyond the periphery of the mold bottom. lNhen thesides and ends 25 andQ are 'forced tightly against the edges of the mold bottom in their closing move-` ments the corners 57 are compressed and a watertight joint or seal is thereby formed between the sheet 5l and the sides and ends of the mold. -Q

In Figs. 9 and llwehave shown slightly modified form of mechanism for operating the lungers 4:5. In this instance a series of brac (ets 57 are mounted Within the peripheries of the wheels 12- and in these brackets, in alinement with the plungers 45, We have positioned a series o operating rods 58 normally retained in depressed or inoperative position by' coiled springs 59. A plu y rality of fixed cam members 60 are disposed in the path of travel of the inner ends of the operating rods 58 so that as these rods travel 'around the Wheel they are brought succes sively into engagement with` the cams 60 whereupon the .rods -58 are pushed outwardly into engagement with the plungers e5 to project the plates 44 and Warp the Flexible sheet disposed thereover. The cams ,60 maybe mounted in any preferred manner but We `have shown them, for purposes of illustration, asencircling the hubs 61 of the wheels 12 and provided with a rearward extension 62 fixed to the frame of the machine. It will thus be obvious that the blocks are freed from the side Walls, the end walls and the bottoms of the molds at vit() wheels 12 and provided with ah rearward the time or before they reach vdischarge position, so that they may be freely removed from the molds when they reach the proper position. Vrlhe mold endsY are held in open @horizontal-position upon the lower travel of the'carrier by the guide 39 until the closing device ,36 is reached whereupon they are closed by this device and are held lin closed position upon further travel by the guide 33.

. The. plastic material has a tendency to stick to the side and endwalls' 25y and 26 ot the molds and -We have, therefore",'prol vided means for. cleaningl 'these vWalls f each time after' arnold has been' use'cLl To this end we mount a plurality`- oi. pipes beneath the carrier Awhich `are equipped with nozzles 64: positioned lto'discharge streams of Water` against the faces'of the mold Walls. Tlie'water is discharged from the nozzles with considerable force and would tend to Wear and deteriorate the rubberbottoms of' the molds if'- ermitted to play against them.,i consequent y, 'the-nozzles'fare so positioned that they will-'dise charge into the corners ofthe molds but-net against the bottoms thereoi. As thefcarrier travels alongthe jets ,of Water AWill'vvash faces of the side walls from botto-m'toto i 'and also the `end 'Walls ,from end toen thereby removing any piastic vmaterial which might have artendency to adhere thereto and thoroughlyl cleansingthe molds for the reception of fresh charges. y

it is believed` that our invention and its mede of operation Will be understood from the foregoingl without further description and, whilefwe have shown and described those embodiments et our invention which appear to be preferable at thevpresent time."

reo

ing mounted upon the bottom of each mold,y

means for flexing said lining to break the bond between the lining and the molded block preparato-ry to discharging the block, and means for closing the molds after the discharge of the blocks.

2. In a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier, a. series of molds on the carrier, each provided with a bottom and sides movable with respect thereto, a lining for the bottom of each mold, said lining being provided around its periphery with a,

sealing strip disposed to be compressed by the sides of the molds when in their closed position to form a fluid-tight joint between the bottom and the sides of the molds, means for moving the sides of the molds to free said sides from the molded blocks, and means for returning the sides of the molds to their normal positions after the discharge of the blocks.

3. In a plastic block molding, machine, an endless carrier,I a series of molds upon the carrier, each provided with a rigidbottom, a flexible lining for the bottom of each mold, and means for flexing said lining toA break the bond between the lining and the molded block during the travel of the carrier nreparatorvwto discharging the block from the mold.

4. In a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier, a series of molds on the carrier, each having a rigid bottom with an opening therein, a flexible lining for the bottom of each of the molds, plungers working through the openings in said bottom, and means for automatically actuating the plungers preparatory to discharging the molded blocks.

5. In a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier running over spaced driving wheels, a series of molds upon the carrier, a flexible lining for the bottom of each mold, each lining being secured to the bottom of its mold around the edges of the lining, the intermediate portion of the lining being free from the mold, a plunger working through the bottom of each mold in cooperative relation with the lining to flex the same, and means located at one end of the machine in cooperative relation with the plungers for actuating the when the molds pass around the driving wheels at said end of the machine, wherebv the linings will be flexed to break the bonds between the'mold` ed blocks and the linings preparatory to discharging the blocks.

6. In a plastic block molding machine, a traveling endless carrier, a series of 'molds upon the carrier, a liexible lining for the bottom of each mold, and means operating during the travel of the carrier for flexing said linings to break the bond betweenthe lining and the molded block preparatory to discharging the block from the mold.

T. In a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier, a series of rigid molds, a flexible lining for the bottom of each mold, and automatically operated means for flexing said lining to break the bond between the lining and the molded block.

8. A mold having a rigid bottom provided with a flexible lining secured 'around its margin, the portion of the lining bounded by the secured portion thereof being free from the bottom of the mold and capable or' being flexed to break the bond between the lining and the molded block. v

9. A mold having a rigid bottom provided with a marginal depression, and a flexible lining having a thickened portion secured in said depression', the portion of the lining bounded by the thickened portion being free from the mold bottom and capable of being flexed to break the bond between said lining and a molded block.

l0. A rigid mold having a flexible lining disposed over the bottom thereof and secured adjacent its periphery tothe bottom of the mold, the edges of said lining projecting beyond the edges of the mold bottom to form a seal in conjunction With the sides ot' said mold, the portion of the 1ining bounded by the part which is secured to the mold bottom being free from the mold bottom and capable of being flexed to break the bond between said lining and a molded block.

l1. In a machine or' the character de-A scribed, the combination of a mold support, a plurality ot molds mounted thereon, each consisting of a bottom and sides movable with respect thereto,'and means attached to said bottom and engaging said sides when in closed position to form therewith a fluid? tight joint.

l2. In a -machine of the character'described, a movable support, a plurality of' molds carried by the support, each consisting ol a. rigid bottoni and sides movable with respect thereto, a flexible medium atv tached to said bottom, and automatic means operating in conjunction with the support for flexing the said medium at one portion of its travel preparatory to discharging the contents ofthe molds.

Htl

lB. lin a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable support, a series of molds mounted on said support, each consisting of a rigid bottom and sides movablewith respect thereto, a compressible medium mounted upon said bottom and extending beyond the edges thereof to engage the said sides when in closed position to form therewith atluidtight joint.

11i. ln a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier, a series of molds upon the carrier, each provided with a bottom and sides movable with respect thereto, means carried by the frame for positively moving the sides to open position, a flexible lining upon the bottom of each mold, means for Hering said lining to break the bond between the lining and the molded block preparatory to discharging the block, and means mounted on the :trame for subsequently and positively moving the sides to closed position preparatory to recharging.

l5. ln a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier, a series of molds upon `the carrier, each provided with a bottom and sides movable with respect thereto, means carried by the iframe for positively moving the sides to open position, a exible lining mounted upon the bottom of each mold, means for flexing said lining to break the bond between the lining and the molded block preparatory to discharging the block, means mounted on the frame lier subsequently and positively moving the sides to closed position preparatory to recharging the molds, and means mounted. on the traine for positively holding the sides in closed. position.`

16. ln a plastic block molding machine, an endless carrier, a series of molds upon the carrier, each provided with a bottom and sides movable with respect thereto, means carried by the frame for positively moving the sides to open position, a iieirible lining mounted upon the bottom ot each mold, means for iiexing said lining to break the bond between the lining and the molded block preparatory to discharging the block, means mounted on the frame for subsetill the molds, and adjustable 4means for positively holding the sides in closed position.

,CHARLES R. BllltDSEY.' CHARLES l?. l-llillillllNGr.

Witnesses:

WM. ll-il. Bam, M. A. Krnnln. 

